AFC EAST RIVALS SET FOR PRIME-TIME CLASH IN
SOUTH FLORIDA

The words “New England Patriots” and “losing” mix like oil and water.  But one place where the Pats have been defeated more times than not is in South Florida, where they face the Miami Dolphins this week on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football.

“We haven’t had much success in Miami historically,” says New England’s BILL BELICHICK, who is 1-3 as the Pats’ head coach at Miami.  The Dolphins are 29-7 (.806) all-time at home against the AFC East-champion Patriots in the regular season, including victories in five of the past six Miami meetings. 

Coincidentally, it was New England’s Belichick who offered an NFL coaching opportunity to Dolphins interim head coach JIM BATES in 1991.  Bates was the University of Florida’s defensive coordinator when Belichick chose him to be his linebackers coach in ’91 on the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff.

Bates, who became the Dolphins’ head coach on November 9, credits the man whose team has won 27 of its past 28 games for his advancement.  “I learned invaluable experience from Bill,” says Bates.  “I respect him as a man and as a football coach because he is – and he has proven it – one of the best, maybe, of all time.”

One of many things Belichick’s Patriots are among the best at is holding a lead late in games.  Last week the Patriots extended their NFL post-1970 record with their 38th consecutive win when holding a lead entering the fourth quarter.  The last time the Patriots lost a game in which they led after three quarters was December 24, 2000 at home against…the Miami Dolphins (27-24).

One reason why the Patriots gain those leads is their stellar first-quarter point differential.  New England has held opponents scoreless in 10 of 13 first quarters this season while the Patriots have scored in 12 of the 13, earning an 80-41 first-quarter edge in points. 

A key ingredient to New England’s success this season has been running back COREY DILLON.  Obtained this year in a draft-day trade with Cincinnati, Dillon is on pace to rush for a franchise-record 1,636 yards.

New England’s top five single-season rushing performances:

                                             *Through 13 games

In a series lately decided by defense (the losing team has not scored more than 14 points in six of the past seven meetings), both clubs bring plenty to the table.  The Dolphins’ defense – ranked eighth overall in the NFL – has not rated lower than its current position all season, while the Patriots are No. 5 in the NFL in points allowed per game (15.9). 

MNF FACTOID

The Dolphins are 38-32 (.543) all-time on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football and are a sparkling 31-17 (.646) when those games are played at home.  Below is a look at clubs with the most MNF appearances and victories:

MONDAY NIGHT MUSINGS – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

• Pro Football Hall of Fame QB JOHN ELWAY spent part of last week visiting American troops in Iraq at Camp Liberty in western Baghdad.  He was joined by comedian ROBIN WILLIAMS, model LEEANN TWEEDEN and actor BLAKE CLARKE, and GEN. RICHARD B. MYERS, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The group then traveled to Afghanistan for the dedication of the Pat Tillman USO Center.  Tillman, the Arizona Cardinals’ safety, was killed with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan earlier this year.  The NFL has donated $250,000 towards the building of the center. 

Miami Dolphins DE JASON TAYLOR and LB ZACH THOMAS also have participated in NFL-USO tours.

Thomas and Taylor traveled to Germany together in May 2003, visiting various military bases and hospitals to show their support for American soldiers fighting overseas.  Taylor found the trip so inspiring he joined another tour the following month.  In June he traveled with Pittsburgh Steelers RB DUCE STALEY, ROBERT DI NIRO, ALYSSA MILANO and GARY SINISE to Iraq and Kuwait.

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HOLIDAY SPIRIT

• Dolphins K OLINDO MARE and P MATT TURK spread goodwill cheer at Children’s Place at Safe House in Palm Beach County last week. They donated CD players and toys to young children who have been displaced from their homes following allegations of abuse. 

• Patriots RB COREY DILLON also made good use of his free time this week.  On Tuesday, he visited Keith Middle School in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Dillon spoke to more than 400 cheering students about the importance of staying in school and trying your best.  After the assembly, he graciously hugged students and teachers, signing dozens of autographs for eager fans.

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LIVING LARGE

• At 6-6 and 310 pounds, Patriots DT RICHARD SEYMOUR still manages to be one of the best-dressed players in the NFL, but it doesn’t come easy.

Seymour often has trouble finding clothes that fit his frame, so he calls on designer JONATHAN SMITH to custom-make his large-scale wardrobe.  Smith’s clientele includes more than 120 NFL players, who have purchased suits ranging from $800 to $1,800.  One of his most well known clients is Ravens CB DEION SANDERS, who used to tell him, “If you look good, you feel good.  If you feel good, you play good.”

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EMBARRASSING MOMENTS

• Dolphins WR RANDY MCMICHAEL and Patriots TE CHRISTIAN FAURIA each have said their most embarrassing NFL moment took place when they dropped easy passes.

McMichael says he was “wide open when (QB) JAY FIEDLER threw a ball that hit me right in the face.”  Fauria’s drop was less obvious. It happened “this year against the Seahawks,” he says.  “I dropped a ball that was right to me.  My three-year old son CALEB could have caught it.”

Both players also have career ambitions for when their playing days are over.  McMichael would like to be a kindergarten teacher.  He says, “You’ve got to mold children when they’re young, because when they get to high school, they get a little out of control.”

Fauria, who owns a masonry business with his brothers, says that he is interested in “selling real estate in California” when his NFL career ends.

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